Best of the South Island

Christchurch

After settling in, spend the rest of your day at leisure. Watch as the historic trams wind their way through the city, enjoy a ride on a punt and glide along the attractive Avon River before enjoying sensational shopping at The Tannery and delectable cuisine in one of the many up-and-coming restaurants.

Lake Tekapo

A place of wondrous natural beauty and striking landscapes, the area boasts remarkable turquoise waters framed by New Zealand’s Southern Alps. A leisurely stroll along the lakeshore to the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd will yield breath-taking views and photo-ready vistas.

Aoraki Mount Cook

Other ways to appreciate the surroundings include heading to the Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre, stargazing at the world’s largest International Dark-Sky Reserve or simply staring up at the mountain and its surrounding peaks.

Queenstown

From walking and biking trails to skiing, river rafting, horse trekking and everything in between, you’ll never be short of things to do in Queenstown. While you’re here, set sail on a spectacular cruise across Milford Sound and explore the local Lord of the Rings film locations and the rugged canyons and rolling farmland of the Arrowtown area on a Safari of the Scenes tour.

Wanaka

Admiring the spectacular mountain scenery is the main activity here, or perhaps setting off into the wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park. In town, the National Transport and Toy Museum has plenty to entertain the little ones, while older children will love the intriguing optical illusions and the mystifying maze at Puzzling World.

Franz Josef

This stunning natural phenomenon is a 7.5-mile-long glacier which descends to less than 300 metres above sea level and is surrounded by lush rainforest, making for an incredible sight. Marvel at the glacier from above on a thrilling helicopter ride and then gain an appreciation of the workings of nature on a glacier hike across its icy face.

Punakaiki

Punakaiki is also a good base for exploring the wilderness of Paparoa National Park, either by kayak, on foot or on horseback. There’s also a glow worm cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites to discover.

Nelson

In this region, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and canyoning are all popular pursuits, as is looking out for the colony of friendly fur seals. Lord of the Rings fans can take in a raft of local Hobbit hotspots such as Rivendell, Dimrill Dale and more.

Blenheim

Visit some of the 40 local vineyards in and around Blenheim on a Scenic Marlborough Wine tour, sampling the vintages and learning more about wine production as you go. Perhaps buy a bottle or two to take home as a souvenir. And don’t forget to try the tasty local artisan food while you’re here as well.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura’s most famous residents are the marine mammal – whales, dolphins and fur seals grace the waters year-round. Set off on a whale watching cruise, which run from the town throughout the year and offer you the chance to get a closer view of these beautiful creatures – you may even have the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins.

Christchurch